Fuel costs reducing the number of anglers on open seas

High fuel costs and a weak economy are keeping more anglers off party boats and more vessels at the dock or with loads too light to cover the cost of fuel.

“Many of the charter boats have holes in their summer calendars, and unless the fish really bite those holes will remain – a very scary situation for the sport fleet,” says Bob Fletcher, president of the Sporttfishing Assn. of California.

On the bright side for anglers who spend about $35 to $55 for half- or three-quarter-day tickets, crowds are sometimes sparse, even on weekends.

But the situation is grim and some boat operators may be forced out of business.

Consider the plight off San Diego, where the price of diesel is more than $5.00 a gallon.

This is albacore season – normally the busiest months of the year – and overnight trips require one-way runs of about 80 miles, on average, plus a lot of trolling at the fishing grounds. Skippers may burn 1,000-plus gallons during one trip.

In years past, they’d make exploratory runs with few passengers hoping to find mobile tuna schools and jump-start interest. Now fleets must maximize, like airlines, canceling multi-day voyages in favor of shorter, cheaper voyages; juggling schedules and trying to ensure adequate passenger loads.

It’s tough because fishermen, too, are feeling the economic pinch. Limited-load overnight one-day trips on weekends cost an average of $225 per person. Weekday open-party trips cost $185. San Diego has historically relied largely on anglers from the Los Angeles area.

So, those anglers must figure in the price of gas for a round-trip commute to San Diego–perhaps $75 or more. That makes it a $300 voyage without figuring in landing fuel surcharges, food, drink, fish-cleaning and gratuity.

With fewer boats on the water, fast-swimming albacore become harder to locate, and tuna-crazed anglers, so accustomed to booking trips only after seeing high fish counts, are not finding high counts.

The situation is not quite as bleak for half- and three-quarter-day fleets, but budget-minded anglers are choosy and check Internet fish counts before boarding.

For example, the Enterprise out of Marina Sportfishing in Long Beach on Friday struck a barracuda bonanza during a morning half-day run, and got out with a decent passenger load in the afternoon.

In Santa Monica Bay, meanwhile, landing operators are still awaiting sand bass and barracuda, and reeling financially as they wait.

Says Rick Oefinger, owner of Marina del Rey Sportfishing(Marinadelreysportfishing.com: “July is looking pretty dismal so far. The New Del Mar did not run the last two nights on twilight due to insufficient angler interest. I have never seen a twilight trip not run in July – ever.”

Meanwhile, south of the border

The scenario is no different in Baja California Sur regions that rely so heavily on anglers from Southern California, although so are faring better than others.

Tracy Ehrenberg, owner of Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, says business was down down only 8% last month and adds, “We still have a lot of faithful clients that come fishing.”

By faithful she means wealthy.

Eric Brictson, owner of Gordo Banks Pangas near San Jose del Cabo, says charter numbers are down 30% compared to this time last year. “Air fare costs are not helping the situation, particularly from the West Coast,” Brictson says. “Anglers flying from L.A. to Cabo are paying upwards of $600 and in some cases more than $800.

“Some people are flying to La Paz and then driving to Los Cabos, just to save a little on their plane fare.”

La Paz seems perpetually troubled by sporadic airline schedules. Delta generally stops flying there from mid-Aug. to November. Alaska flies there most regularly from Los Angeles: on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. AeroMexico also offers flights.

At the East Cape, which is most easily accessible via the Los Cabos airport, hotel business is down 20%-50%, depending whom you ask.

Local Saltwater

Courtesy of Philip Friedman, founder of 976-tuna.com:

Offshore tuna: The San Diego bite is best on 1 1/2-day trips or longer as albacore and bluefin have been more active later in the day. This was the trend for much of last season too. Sub-tropical and tropical species are swimming into the picture. Dorado, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, skipjack and kelp-paddy yellowtail are pushing into northern Baja waters.

The Big Game 90 reported from 1 1/2-day range recently with 118 albacore and five bluefin.

Capt. Dave Hansen from the Liquid Coast Highway reports seeing yellowfin tuna as close as 12 miles from Dana Point. Yellowfin tuna have a penchant for traveling with pods of dolphin in warmer water. “The water temp has been to 72 degrees, and that’s plenty warm enough to keep them around,” Hansen said.

The Dana Pride out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing is running a three-quarter-day yellowfin trip Wednesday. Call (949) 496-5794, ext. 7 for details.

Barracuda/sand bass: Both species continue to tease L.A./O.C. anglers. “One day they’re wide open and the next day they disappear,” said Don Ashley, owner of Pierpoint landing in Long Beach. “Last Friday night we had wide open twilight sand bass fishing. That was followed by two very poor days of sand bass fishing.”

The same pattern has been going on with the barracuda. On Monday morning, however, local boats from San Pedro and Long Beach were encountering big schools of hungry barracuda and sand bass.

Add albacore

Fishing on one-day boats has been poor, for the most part, as the boats have to run for home as the afternoon bite gets going. Fishing on 1 1/2- and two-day boats has been very good.

The Endeavor returned from a 1 1/2-day voyage to Seaforth Sportfishing on Sunday night with 20 anglers who caught 41 albacore, 32 bluefin tuna and seven yellowtail.

The Legend, on a two-day excursion, returned to the landing Sunday with 25 anglers having caught 92 albacore, 30 bluefin and one yellowfin.

Seaforth’s top catches for the week: a 75-pound bluefin aboard the Aztec by Jason Gibbs of Escondido; and a 91-pound opah aboard the Voyager by Rob Kato of Chino.

Southern Baja

Cabo San Lucas: More settled weather, between tropical disturbances, may soon result in better fishing. Striped marlin catches are spotty but stripers and blues are being encountered, and a 300-pound blue was weighed after it perished 10 minutes after being hooked. Dorado action is picking up, says Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing. Tuna catches have picked up a little.

San Jose del Cabo: Water has warmed and conditions are settling, and offshore game fish are slowly responding. Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reports a slight increase in marlin activity and notes the hooking of several blue marlin, which is a positive sign. Most anglers are staying inshore, however, targeting snappers, pompano, roosterfish and jacks. Jim Fleming of Quincy, Calif., caught a 90-pound amberjack with a chrome iron lure near Iman Bank.

East Cape: Fishing has slowed considerably, but tuna are starting to show and a 52-pound dorado was caught by Jason Hummel of San Dimas aboard Alegria of the Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort fleet. Hummel’s group also caught and released six striped marlin.

La Paz: The remote Las Arenas area is serving up an array of species, including roosterfish, amberjacks, cabrilla, dorado, pargo and many more, reports Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International. Al Cambell of Santa Rosa caught a roosterfish estimated to weigh 75 pounds. Mitch Chavira caught a 50-pound amberjack. The La Paz-based fleet is catching mostly dorado.

Freshwater tidbits

Crowley Lake: The annual Stillwater Classic, a fly-fishing catch-and-release tournament benefiting fishery enhancement, is scheduled Aug. 9. Last year $10,000 was raised and used to purchase and stock brown trout. Grand prize this year is a bonefish trip to the Bahamas. Cost is $75. Boaters and float-tubers are welcome. Details: (760) 935-4301 or www.crowleylakefishcam.com.

Bishop: Gary Gunsolley at Brock’s Flyfishing reports that the wild trout section of the Lower Owens River is running high but suggests nymphing in the slower water with AB-size splitshots. Tiger midges, gold-ribbed hares ears and pheasant tails size 16-18 are good choices. Those braving the heat in the Gorge section are doing well with most flies. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is productive near the inlet on wooly buggers and olive matukas.

Lake Sabrina: Alan Houston earns top angler rights at this picturesque lake atop Bishop Creek Canyon with a 3 1/2-pound Alpers rainbow.

Diamond Valley Lake: The marina staff reports a wide-open bass bite at 10-25 feet, with drop-shotted plastic worms getting most. Trout fishing has improved along the west dam. Try trolling needlefish at 40-60 feet. Lots of catfish but no real lunkers.

Irvine Lake: Lee Dickerhoof of Chino caught the week’s top catfish at this wilderness lake near Silverado, a 16.12-pounder that inhaled a hunk of mackerel.

This week’s trout plants

LOS ANGELES - Jackson Lake and Piru Creek (Frenchmans Flat).

RIVERSIDE - Hemet Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO - Gregory Lake, Santa Ana River and Santa Ana River South Fork.

SAN DIEGO - Cuyamaca Lake and Doane Pond.

INYO - Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Intake 2), Bishop Creek Lower, Bishop Creek (Middle & South Forks), Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Owens River (Section 2), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Rock Creek Lake, Sabrina Lake, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek and Tuttle Creek.

MADERA - San Joaquin River Middle Fork, Sotcher Lake and Starkweater Lake. MONO - Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Lee Vining Creek South Fork, Little Walker River, Lundy Lake, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, Mary Lake, McGee Creek, Mill Creek, Owens River (Section 3), Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Sections 1 & 2), Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Tioga Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport (Lower & Upper), Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Creek, Virginia Lake (Lower & Upper) and West Walker River (Sections 2 & 3).